Tuesday, March 19, 2013

(Note: AMELIA KENT, BSW, is a US Peace Corps Volunteer. Below are my kind reply to her questions)

1.
Please describe the mission/goals of your organization, what events you
organize and who are you members?

ROXANNE
OMEGA DORON (ROD): The mission, vision and goals of our organization, anchored
on the premise that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community
in particular, and the broad masses of Filipino people in general are
marginalized and oppressed.

Our
vision is, “We look forward for a society that is just, humane and democratic.
Thus, we cry for Equality and Respect.” Our mission is, “We are committed to
ensure the understanding and all-round promotion of the rights and
responsibilities of the LGBT community.” Our goals, includes;

1.
Assist LGBT organizations in the communities in their efforts to unite and
collectively advance their problems and concerns so that their problems are
addressed and their participation in community affairs improved.
2. Establish LGBT groups in communities where there is none.
3. Unite with non-LGBT sectors in their struggles and concerns and actively
participate in the people’s movement for change.
4. To become a credible resource center in the Bisaya speaking communities on
matters related to LGBT concerns.

We
recruit LGBTs and non-LGBTs as gender equality advocates. We organize
educational discussions to various communities like understanding gender and
sexuality within the context of a feudal and patriarchal society, promoting
human rights in the context of HIV and AIDS prevention, promotion of arts and
culture activities and even traditional activities like joining Gawad Kalinga
or giving slippers to poor and isolated towns.

2.
Please describe some of the major issues or societal problems you think are
facing the LGBT community in the Philippines?

ROD:
Majority of the Philippine population, roughly 75% composed the peasantry, it
follows that a significant portion of the LGBT community are within the peasant
class or origin. Liberating the peasantry from the land problem is liberating
the LGBT community from class and consequently gender issues.

The
Philippines is a backward and pre-industrial country, therefore, feudal forms
of exploitation remains a major issue faced by a significant portion of our
population, including the LGBT community.

Hence,
land monopoly is a major problem and backward agricultural methods deepened the
oppression and marginalization of the LGBT community in the countryside. Due to
the backward condition in far-flung areas, the LGBT community suffers the most
since feudal, macho, and patriarchal culture is more deep and prevalent than in
the metropolitan areas.

As
a consequence, religion too (not only Roman Catholic) is deeply entrenched in
the countryside and moralists castigating the LGBT community as sinful brought
people to think LGBT is wrong. Even some LGBTs in rural areas think likewise
and are affected by religious bigotry.

In
urban areas, LGBT communities are somewhat tolerated but rarely accepted. Their
talents, wit, and resourcefulness are taken advantage of for the benefit of the
institutions they served. Even so, stigma, discrimination, marginalization, and
oppression are still apparent than ever.

The
LGBT community as part of the working class, which is roughly 15% of the entire
population, in the cities also faced stigma, discrimination, marginalization,
and oppression. Most working LGBTs prefer to stay in the closet than come-out
due to the macho character of workplaces. However, the presence of contact
centers as industries preferred by LGBTs is a welcome respite in a degrading
macho working condition.

The
gender issue is different from a class issue. While the presence of contact
centers provided opportunities for the LGBTs, the working class issue on wages,
security of tenure, benefits and other universally accepted labor rights are
still issues which the working people, including the LGBTs, should confront
head-on. In fact, in Cebu several years ago, LGBTs take the lead in facing
issues confronted by the working people in business process outsourcing.

LGBT
youth and students also faced discriminating school policies like the wearing
of uniform, gender insensitive instructions and other archaic policies which affects
the intellectual development of persons with different sexual orientation and
gender identity but are implemented for various reasons, among them is intolerance.

And
the openly LGBT youth in the communities and schools, while assertive of their
gender and sexuality still experienced bullying and are stigmatized, often come
from their immediate families, neighbors and school officials.

3. Describe how the Catholic faith plays a role in establishing an LGBT
identity in the Philippines, what confusion or conflicts does it cause?

ROD:
It is saddening that the Catholic Church in the Philippines coined a definition
for LGBTs totally detached from reality. While it is understandable coming from
their “moral” point of view and historical bias and bigotry, it does not make
sense at all.

For
example, it is totally OK with them for LGBTs to be “LGBT” as long as they will
not practice the sexual act which is totally incomprehensible. It is an
imposition with roots which can be traced way back during the Inquisition! They
want to completely separate homosexual orientation from homosexual act.

They
assumed that what you feel is “right” but when you practice what your heart and
mind dictates it becomes a sin and you become immoral based on their own
subjective interpretation on what morality is. But since the Philippines is
deeply Catholic and at some point fanatical, it is a challenge to rightfully
and objectively confront an institution which long betrayed the LGBT community
but nonetheless takes advantage of LGBTs who are useful to them.

But
I know a lot of LGBTs and heterosexual priests who are supportive of and proud
to have worked with us.

4.
In the Philippines how are LGBT usually treated when they “come out” to members
of their family? How is it different for gays and lesbians?

ROD:
I haven’t encountered a study regarding gays coming out and how they are
treated or the difference of treatment between a gay (male-homosexual) and a
lesbian. But sharing within the LGBT community and anecdotes will tell you that
the more open the community or family, more LGBTs will come-out. Usually in
urban areas, gays come-out a little bit easier especially if the family is more
liberal and open. But it is much more difficult in rural areas where feudal
exploitation is deep and religious bigotry is deep-seated. In general, it is
still hard to come-out because the treatment is still harsh both
psychologically, and some instances physically and sexually.

5.
Can you talk a little about the ‘language of the gays’ in the Philippines?

ROD:
Language exists, in fact it has been created in order to serve a specific
community, as a means of intercourse between people irrespective of their
social and economic status in life. On the other hand, the gay language, as I
see it, is cultural assertion. It not only meant as a form of communication but
also a means to code existing interactions to hide feelings, to express grief
and most importantly to relate effectively within the LGBT community. The gay
language, even if at most creatively constructed, is a grim reminder that gays
can not effectively use its mother tongue or dialect to communicate with out
fear.

6.
Can you describe some differences in culture, policies or tolerance that you’ve
noticed between the LGBT communities here in the Philippines compared to the
LGBT community in the United States?

ROD:
The advanced economic condition in the U.S. and the backwardness of Philippine
society is a major contributory factor about tolerance and acceptance in each
respective country. In the U.S some states are open to same-sex marriage or
union, while the Philippines have a long way to go. In the Philippines,
homophobia is more or less “sidelined,” while in the U.S. it is somewhat
mainstreamed. In the U.S. reparative therapy as a means to “correct” or “cure”
homosexuality is still in existence, in the Philippines traditional and far
more destructive “conversion therapies” like a drunken father poured hot water
to his gay son. Or a gay son whose father is a police man stripped his gay son
naked on his way to school.

7.
Please talk about the LGBT who are contributing to society in different ways
which helps the general society “tolerate” them?

ROD:
A portion of the LGBT community succeeded in penetrating different economic,
political and cultural structures due to the fact that the LGBT community is
often (and correctly) viewed as industrious, creative, active, participative,
intelligent and even friendly. Their talents and attitudes are being taken advantage
of and in some ways tolerated due to their contribution in any given
undertakings. It is a fact, gays are embedded in almost all structures of
governance and leadership, economic activity and most visible in the promotion
of culture and arts. However, a truly heterosexual, or more precisely
male-dominated society, like the Philippines, accommodated the LGBTs, tolerated
its presence but never accepted it as part and contributor of a democratic
society, because no significant laws protecting the LGBTs. Tolerance does not
automatically translate to respect.

8.
What role does the LGBT community play in events like Sinulog?

ROD:
The LGBT community, specifically the openly gays are the planners, implementers
of the Sinulog festival. A religious festival or any festival for that matter
will never be the same without the involvement of the LGBTs.

You
take a cursory look in any of the committees, from the top echelons of planning
down to the bottom of it (even in the cleaning of garbage!) openly gays are
involved – deeply involved. They create an exceptionally gay festival in a
truly religious undertaking like what we have seen for decades. In an ironic
twist of fate, beyond its materialism and consumerism lies the genuine
expression of the LGBT community to their faith – the same faith that often
echoed and brand LGBTs as immoral and sinful.

I
suspect the reason why priest do not castigate LGBTs during the daily novena in
preparation for any religious festivals is to tolerate gays as an important
partner. Otherwise, no festival will ever succeed.

That
is why, beyond its religiosity and fanaticism, lies the LGBT community’s
expression of her/his faith. But there’s the rub, gays are being tolerated in
any festivals like Sinulog as a cultural event, but not so much in some other
areas of our life.

9.
Can you share some information on the closeted gays in relation to spreading
HIV?

ROD:
The discreet or the so-called closeted gays are difficult to reach due to their
covert behavior. Their being clandestine is truly understandable, given the
fact that widespread stigma and oppression are apparent than ever. Coupled with
a risky behavior, their vulnerability to STIs and even HIV infection is very
high.

The
risky behavior and vulnerability to diseases like HIV is the effect of
widespread stigma, marginalization, discrimination, and oppression.

On
the other hand, records of HIV cases are very alarming because the incidence of
HIV cases is exponentially high among men-having-sex-with-men (MSM) and even
the transgender (TG) community. But is, sadly, understandable because HIV cases
affect communities which are already suffering from lack of human rights
protection, for example lack of laws and enforcement of ordinances that
protects LGBTs. A creative and innovative approach to penetrate the community
of discreet gays is necessary coupled with a holistic understanding of their
social behavior and community participation.

However,
while laws are important instruments to protect LGBTs against stigma and
discrimination, it is still the social system that allows LGBTs to be oppressed.
And that social system should be changed.

10.
What is the number one priority right now for the LGBT community?
Any other information you want to share about Bisdak Pride?

ROD:
It is always a priority for the LGBT community to study society in order to move
forward and to fully understand stigma, discrimination, marginalization and
oppression. The LGBT community should study society from a progressive and
scientific point of view, its history and background.

After
studying history and analyzing the different social classes, the LGBT community
should strengthen its organization and link with various sectoral and
multi-sectoral organizations to advance its rightful place in our country.

No
LGBT community will take pride in advancing its cause without the support and
participation of different sectors and classes. An isolated LGBT community can
not claim its place in our society. This is why Bisdak Pride, Inc. is not
exclusively for LGBTs because we believe heterosexuals are also effective
mouthpiece in our advocacy for gender equality and societal change.

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About Me

“What can I tell you of my past, gentleman (he is saying) I was born in a land where the idea of freedom, the notion of right, the habit of human kindness were things coldly despised and brutally outlawed. Now and then, in the course of history, a hypocrite government would paint the walls of the nation’s prison a comelier shade of yellow and loudly proclaim the granting of rights familiar with happier states; but either these rights were solely enjoyed by the jailers or else they contained some secret flaw which made them even more bitter than the decrees of frank tyranny…Every man in the land was a slave, if he was not a bully; since the soul and everything pertaining to it were denied to man, the infliction of physical pain came to be considered as sufficient to govern and guide human nature…From time to time a thing called revolution would occur…”
I could have dreamed of writing it, but I can’t, Vladimir Nabokov did in his book, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight.

Chop suey(Chinese:pinyin:zásuì; literally "assorted pieces") is aChinese dishconsisting of meats (often chicken, fish, beef, shrimp or pork) and eggs, cooked quickly with vegetables such asbean sprouts,cabbage, andceleryand bound in a starch-thickened sauce. It is typically served with rice but can become the Chinese-American form ofchow meinwith the addition of stir-fried noodles.

Like “binignit” usually eaten during Holy Week and best served when hot, I hope to make your stay in my site holy and hot. Hope you also experience the “taste” of vegetable “chop suey” and may your taste stands out — like mine.